Collapsible building



June 29, 1943. n.'wHlTEMAN coLLAPsIBLE BU'ILDING Filed June 16, 1942 Sheets-Sheet 1 A A Q\ -111111. 1 1 l l l l 1 ||\4 l :El: .QN f QN\\ .im 29, 1943.' R. D. WHITEMAN 2,323,106

COLLAPSIBLE BUILDING Filed June 16, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 29, 1943- l R. D. wHn-EMAN x 2,323,106

COLLAPSIBLE BUILDING I Filed June 16, 1942 4 5 Sheets-Sheet @b N w JD. W/n'ze 1n a n, INVENTOR.

June 29, 1943. R. D. WHITEMA'N COLLAPSIBLE BUILDING Filed June 16, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet; 4`

2f. D. Wfl/'fem an, INVENTOR.

June 29, 1943. v R- D, WHITEMAN 2,323,106

` COLLAPSIBLE BUILDING i Filed June 16, 1942` 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l? ,JJ

Y Patented June 29, 1943 j UNITED STATES A PATENT N OFFICE ...milm G R! Donald Whiteman, Piedmont, Kalli. Alililltlon Jlme 18, 1942, Sel'hl No. 447,259

s mums. (ci. :zo-z) The ydevice forming the subject matter of my present application is a building, the word buildlng being construed broadly, to mean the body of an automobile, a temporary dwelling, or one mounted iixedly.

The invention aims to provide a device of theA class described, so constructed that its height and width may be lessened to decrease the bulk of the dwelling appreciably, thereby, facilitating transportation. I'he invention aims to provide novel means whereby the various parts may be actuated from a single point control.

It is within the province ofthe disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to'which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and-claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of' the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the in: vention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a device of the class described and constituting .the subject matter oi.' this application, in collapsed form;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2-2v of Fig.3;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 ofFig.2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the' line 4 4 of FIS. 3;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan, the auxiliary floor pieces having been swung outwardly into operative position;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the door and attendant parts;

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the device in col lapsed condition.

'I'he building forming the subject matter of this application comprises a fixed floor section I. Telescopic hollow postsare provided,- each post including a lower section 2 and an upper section 3, the lower sections being secured to the floor I. An upwardly curved main roof section 4 is secured to the upper parts 3 of the telescopic posts.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, an operating shaft 5 extends longitudinally of the building, beneath the floor section I and is journaledin bearings t on the floor section I. Rotation may be imparted to the shaft l by any suitable means, for instance a detachable crank 1, appearing in Figs.

2 and 5. Drums 8 are secured to the shaft 5,

closely adjacent to the outermost bearings 6.

Standards Ii (Fig. 3) have their lower ends connected to the I. the standards extending upwardly into the uwer. sections l of the telescopic posts. Pulleys I0 are mountedto rotatel -flanges I4, the post sections 3 have inwardly extended anchor lugs I5, best seen in Fig. 3..

The numeral It marks a flexible element having one end secured to the anchor lug I5 at one side of the device, the flexible element proceeding thence downwardly around the pulley II, the flexible element being given a few turns around the drum. l and being extended outwardly about the pulley I2, upwardly within t'ne post parts 2 and 3, and downwardly about the pulley III, the end of the flexible element II being attached to the anchor lug I5.

The same construction is employed at the opposite side of the building, a flexible element I1, corresponding to the flexible element IB, aside from the fact that, as shown in Fig'. 3, the flexible element I1 is crossed upon itself, as shown at I8.

Since lthere are four of the telescopic posts, the drum and pulley mechanism described is duplicated at the end of the building remote from .the crank 1, as Fig. 3 shows.

Auxiliary floor pieces I9 are provided, and are hinged at their inner edges to the outer edges of the fixed oor section I, as shown at 2li. At their ends, the auxiliary floor pieces I9 are connected rigidly to upright end closures 2|, shown in clearest outline in Fig. 3. The upper edge of each closure 2| is curved, to conform to the curvature of the main roof section I. The inner edges of the closures 2| are vertical, when the device is set up, and are at right angles to the floor pieces I9.

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be noted that the end closures 2I have hook flanges 22, adapted'to interengage with hook flanges 23 on parts to be described hereinafter. y

Referring to Fig. 3, curved side walls 24 are provided, and are hinged at 25 to the outer edges of the 'auxiliary iioor pieces I9. Frames vthe upper end wall being 'secured to the mail;`

roof section 4, and the lower endv wall 32 being secured to the floor I, the wall 32 being extended downwardly below` the oor, to shieldjthewoperating machinery at the ends of the building.

As shown at 34, the end walls 32 Vand 313 are extended a little way around onA the sides of the building. It may now be noted that ythe curved portions 32 and 33 carry (Fig. 4) the hook" l closures 2I and the upper portlonsof the side flanges 23 that engage with the hook flanges 22 of the end closures 2|. y n

The structure at the end of the buildingremote from the end walls 33-32 is a substantial duplicate of that structure, parts hereinbeforev upper member 38 and a lower member 39, the

lower member 39 being provided at its upper edge with a downwardly opening hook-shaped flange 40, cooperating with an upwardly opening hook-shaped flange 4I in the upper member 38 of the door. Each door part 33 and 39 is.` connected to the walls 33' and 32', respectively, by `a hinge 42, one hinge being an external hinge, and the other hinge being an internal hinge. The door members 38 and 39 are held closed by latches 43, cooperating with keepers 44 on the wall parts 32' and 33' respectively, one keeper being external and the other keeper internal.

In providing mechanism for swinging the auxiliary floor pieces I3 upwardly, from a horizontal position, toa vertical or closed position, drums 45 (Fig. 5), are secured to the shaft 5. The intermediate portions of ilexible elements 46 are wound about the drums 45.

The flexible elements 46 are connected to adinstable anchors 41, carrying pins 48 which have longitudinal adjustment at the will of an operator in the slots 49 formed in levers 5I). The anchors 41, the pins 48 and the slots 49 permitan adjustment of the flexible element 46 with respect to the lever 50, so that the auxiliary iioor pieces I9 will work in properly timed relation with respect to other movable parts.

'I'he levers 50 work Within guides 5I, secured to the iixed iloor section I on the lower surface thereof. The fulcra for theglevers 60 are indicated at 52 land are carried by the fixed oor section I. Links 53 are supplied and are connected by ball .and socket joints 54 to the levers 50.

'I'he outer ends of the links 53 are connected vby ball and socket joints. 55, to brackets 56, secured to the auxiliary iloor pieces I 9 at the ends thereof.

When the structure is in the open form of Fig. 3, the'crank 1 is operated, to rotate the shaft 5. The drums 8 turn with the shaft 5; one run o1' the flexible elements I6 and I'I pays oil.' the drums 8, the other run accumulates thereon, and the upper sections 3 of the telescopic posts move downwardly within the lower sections 2, carrying with them the roof 4. When the shaft 5 is rotated, the flexible elements -48 ope'rate the levers 50, and through the links 53, the auxiliary oor pieces I9 are swung upwardly into vertical positions.

As the auxiliary floor pieces I3 swing upwardly,

ber 38 can move downwardly with respect to the door member 39.

In its collapsed fori-n, the device is greatly dev creased in height (Fig. '1), and itswidth is also decreased, since the upper portions cf the end walls 24 have been carried inwardly. y

When rotation in an opposite direction is imparted to the 'shaft 5, the main roof section 4 is raised to its upper limit, as shown in'Flg. 3, the

ilexible elements I3 and IIl operating in a man'- ner which will be clear from Fig. 3, in view of what has been stated hereinbefore.

I claim: y 1.l In a collapsible building, a main oor, telescopic posts each comprising an upper section,

and a lower section secured to the oor, a roof secured to the upper post sections, means for extending the posts to raise the roof, auxiliary floor pieces hinged to the outer portions of the main oor, end closures secured to the auxiliary floor pieces and having curvedvouter edges. side walls having their lower edges hinged to the outer edges of the auxiliary floor pieces and curved to conform to the curved edges of the end closures, curved guides carried by the roof and receiving the ends of the side walls slidably, end walls comprising slidably associated upper and lower members, the upper members being secured to the roof and the lower members being secured to the oor,

and mechanism operated by said means to swing the'auxiliary floor sections upwardly and carry the side walls and the end closures inwardly.

2. In a collapsible building, a main floor, a roof, means for mounting the roof for raising and lowering, auxiliary floor pieces hinged at their inner edges to the outer edges of the main floor, curved side walls hinged to the outer edges of the auxiliary floor sections, curved guides supported adjacent to the roof and receiving the ends of the side walls slidably, and means for swinging the auxiliary floor sections upwardly and downwardly, through an arc of approximately ninety degrees.

3. In a collapsible building, a main floor, a roof, means Afor mounting the roof for raising Land lowering, auxiliary iioor pieces hinged at their inner edges to the outeryedges of the 'main floor, curved side walls hinged to the outer edges of the auxiliary oor sections, curved guides supported adjacent to the roof and receiving the ends oi' th'e side walls slidably, means for swinging the auxiliary floor sections upwardly and downwardly, through an arc of approximately ninety degrees, the last-specified means comprises a shaft ROY DONALD WHITEMAN. 

